Our sweet, spunky, sassy, “siwwy” (silly), big blue-eye Nora is TWO… going on 22.
Can you believe it!
And yes, she’s holding a rubber baby chick in these pictures as it was the only way she would cooperate. The chick is BRIGHT pink — but I edited out the color 🙂
Everything about the photos above makes me grin from ear to ear — even though I’ve looked at them all a hundred times since we had them taken a few weeks ago.
She is just so cute… and I’ll be honest, 2 is my MOST favorite age for kids. Period!
Yes, she can be SO naughty, SO stubborn, SO whinny, and SO unreasonable I just want to throw in the towel some days — but she is also SOOOOOO much fun.
It’s simply amazing how much she has changed since my last update, 6 months ago. Even I can’t remember all the new things she’s learned since then — however, I KNOW that her speech has probably been the biggest change.
This girl talks non-stop. Unless there’s a strange person around, and then she won’t make a peep 🙂
I’ve been looking forward to her talking for a long time and it’s just as much fun as I imagined it would be. So many hilarious one-liners that Dave and I laugh about over and over again.
She’s to the point where she repeats EVERYTHING we say — like when I scold other drivers under my breath, or when Dave and I say things like “what were those people thinking” as we work on renovating the upstairs.
She just throws up her hands and says “what people ‘tinking’?” and then laughs uncontrollably (because we laugh) and says, “Nora siwwy”.
She always refers to herself in the third person and can talk in mostly complete sentences (which sometimes only Dave and I can understand). But don’t worry, she’ll keep repeating herself over and over and over again until she knows WE know what she’s trying to say.
She is probably one of the most opinionated little people I’ve ever met — which is not all that surprising if you happen to know her mother 🙂
She knows exactly what she wants to do and when, what she wants to eat, what books she wants to read, what puzzles she wants to do, what movie she wants to watch, and where she wants her babies to sleep at night. She doesn’t always get her way… and she still doesn’t handle that very well, but we’re working on it!
She knows EXACTLY what she wants to wear every day — right down to the color of socks, the pair of shoes, what color nail polish, and even the number/type of clips she wants in her hair. At this point, I honestly could care less what she wears (as long as it’s weather appropriate) so I just let her choose and it’s never been a huge issue. Unless of course, her favorite pair of light pink and orange socks are in the wash on the day she wants to wear them.
Sigh… she definitely does not get this fashion obsession from her mama!
At least she’s lucky her aunty lives right down the road and will come over to paint her nails whenever she wants.
Her most recent accomplishment is that she’s become obsessed with singing — and yes, it is so sweet.
Many times a day she asks, “mommy, peeze sing _________ to Nora” — and so we sing … Bible songs, nursery rhyme songs, the wheels on the bus (her personal favorite), songs with motions, and the ABCs. Then, before I even finish the last note, she has her request in for the next song of choice. I usually cut her off after about 15 songs in a row and put on a children’s sing-a-long tape/CD instead.
Nora loves her “boombox”.
She’s started singing a little bit by herself. I suppose you can’t really call it “singing” but she sure is trying. Her favorite songs to sing right now are Old McDonald (she just sings “E I E I O” over and over again), the ABC’s, and The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.
She knows all her colors and shapes, she can count to 10, she’s obsessed with all animals and bugs, and she dances like a crazy woman. Most of her “dancing” involves lots of head bobbing, spinning, marching, and rolling around on the floor.
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She’s super affectionate and frequently runs up to me and says, “Nora need give mommy a hug” or “Nora loves mommy so much”. She also has to pat my belly and say “baby brover… so cute!” at least 10 times a day.
There is honestly so much more I could say about Nora after 6 whole months of growing and learning — but I suppose I’ll stop.
Nora is busy playing in her new kitchen… and just told me that she has eggs, hotdogs, and water ready for me to eat 🙂
Happy 2nd Birthday Nora… we’ve come a long way together!
taken last week — when I was 24 weeks along 🙂
JoDi says
Love those beautiful blue eyes and that adorable monkey grin! I know it hasn’t been easy, but you are clearly raising a very joyful little girl there!
Carle says
Happy Birthday to your little one, the fun just keeps on coming! 🙂 Enjoy and keep smiling.
Nicole Church says
She is adorable! I have similar feelings about Zoe, who’ll be 2 on Dec. 15. I love the photos of Nora in navy/gray. Could you tell me the photographer’s name? We need to have new photos taken at an affordable price.
Andrea says
Thanks Nicole, My sister’s sister-in-law took our pictures — but she’s not really a photographer. I’m not sure if she does it for other people, but you can contact her if you want. Her name is Ashley: ashleyjoy4291@yahoo.com
Christine says
Happy Birthday Nora!! Thanks Andrea for sharing photos of your lovely family. They always make me smile. Our kids grow up so fast (doesn’t always seem that way on ‘those’ days, but they do) and I always get the impression you enjoy every moment.
Kim says
What a fun description of your precious little Nora. Love the singing, love it all! Keep up the great parenting work! You guys are doing a fabulous job.
martha lawson says
Happy 2nd birthday, Nora!! You are such a beautiful little girl, I have loved following the pictures of you as you’ve grown. They always make me smile!!
Cherie says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NORA! it has been such a delight watching you grow….
Dana says
As a music teacher, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for encouraging your daughter’s love of music and singing – and for giving her a way to play her music for herself! So many kids grow up without music in the home (or books/reading, for that matter), and the arts do so much to encourage growth and creativity in kids, especially when they’re this young 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks Dana — my mom is a band / choir / music teacher also and has been teaching kids music her entire life. So whether I wanted to sing with Nora or not, it was bound to happen — it’s just in our genes 🙂
Jenny C. says
Precious Nora, precious Mommy, and precious baby brother!!! Happy Birthday Nora!!!
Sandy K says
Nora sure is adorable and looks just like her mother. You really capture her in pictures that you will treasure and Nora will when she gets older. Thank you for sharing. Happy Birthday, Nora.
Deborah Walker says
She is adorable , when she is older she is going to love looking back through your blog of your life moments together! I love what you did with the 24 months pic! Your all baby, when I was pregnant I was all over pregnant, lol! New to your blog and enjoying it. I look forward down the road to grandchildren. Until then I admire! Best to you and your family!
Jennifer says
Love hearing and seeing all the sweet stories and pics of Nora! She has such a darling personality! Happy Birthday, Nora!
Shelly says
Happy birthday, Nora!! She’s so adorable!! Three and four are fun ages, too. You’ve got lots of fun to come. Me, too, since I’m starting over with baby #3. 🙂
Amy O says
Happy birthday, Nora! (that was my great-grandmother’s name and I love it)
Just love your blog, Andrea!
Miranda says
Sweet girl! I’m new to your blog and I just had to tell you that I’m so inspired. I can’t wait to do some organizing, de-cluttering, and simplifying. Please keep doing what you’re doing and Happy Birthday to Miss Nora. Thanks.
Shareen says
God bless her and your growing family. I have to say 2 is an awesome age. My daughter will be 3 in January and just wait and see how much she changes in just 6 months. It’s so much fun. By the way, you are so sweet and right at 24 weeks you look amazing.
Enjoy your pregnancy and your sweet little one.
Happy Birthday to Nora.
Marji says
Love seeing your pictures of Nora and your descriptions of what she is doing. So cute. (So long since my boys were that age) I am more consistent reading your blog than anyone else’s. Gives me a smile every time.
Happy Birthday, Nora!
Becky says
She is so adorable! Happy Birthday Nora!
Paulette Smith says
Andrea, thank you for sharing your journey with your DARLING daughter! I have poured over your pictures many times. I’ve even shown my husband some of the pics (the man who tolerates me showing him what I’ve seen on the ‘net) and he always has a huge grin after he views the pics. Nora is just such a huge little personality! And so beautiful. The pic of her in the orange polka dot dress is your spitting image!
Lydia @ Five4FiveMeals.com says
Happy birthday, Nora! Two is the best. They are blossoming into such independent little people.
Leanne says
so sweet, and such lovely photos!
Charissa says
So cute and sweet! Happy 2nd birthday, Nora! My husband and I started a quote book for each of our kiddos. You think you’ll remember all the cute things they say and how they say them, but time erases so much of that! I suggest a quote book for your sweetie!!!
Deni says
Happy Birthday Nora!!! She is so adorable, and I love updates on what she is doing. Her birthday present is incredible!!! You really did an amazing job and your kids will enjoy it for years.
Julie says
I love that you let Nora pick out her own clothes. I have always let my kids also. They almost never matched (I wish I would have taken more pictures of their mismatched outfits)when they were young, but they were happy and you know that is one battle I am/was not going to fight. Now I always tell them I don’t care what you wear as long as it doesn’t show too much(my girls are 10 and 12). The only time I allow myself a say in what they wear is when we are going to either a funeral or a wedding, them what they wear has to pass my inspection. Also, they can’t wear pants with holes in the knees when we see my SIL.
My youngest daughter used to wear hot pink cowboy boots with EVERYTHING!! There were plenty of comments, mostly from little old ladies, as we would do our shopping etc., but they never bothered the kids and I found them mostly amusing. Cute post!! The fun years are just beginning!!!
Kari says
She sounds simply adorable. And I thought I liked age 2 the best too, until we got to three! The fun times are just beginning!